Instrument panel



Oct. 16, 1928.

.J. R. PADESKY INSTRUMENT PANEL Filed Feb. 17, 1926 Fatented {Oct 16, 1928. I

O FICE.

JOHN R. PADESKLDF LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN, 'AssIGNoR; BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

T NATIONAL GAUGE & EQUIPMENT COMPANY, or WIL INGTO DEL W E, A

coEroRAr'IoN o nELAwARE. -f

INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Application filed February 17, 1926. Serial No. 88,831.

This invention relates to improvements in instrument panels, particularly those panels adapted to the mounting of the indicating instruments which are usually employed in motor vehicles and which are arranged near the seat of the operator and designed to be read by the operator.

An object of the invention is to provide a panel, so constructed and arranged, in connection with an associated electric light, as to permit of an indirect illumination of the faces of theindicating instrument; a further object being to provide a construction which will permit of an inexpensive installation of the instruments and light upon the panel as a unit in a manner to secure an indirect lighting of the faces of the instrument. I

Fig. 1 is a front elevationalvicw of the panel; Fig. 2 isa transverse View on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear view with part of the instruments in place; F ig. 4: is a transverse view on lines H of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an en: larged sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 is a sectional view on lines 6 of Fig. 1. Y r

Like parts are indicated by like figures throughout the different views.

The panel 1 is capable of being quickly ap plied to the dash of an automobile, there being openings 2 for that purpose. There are shown openings for three instruments, the

central space being vacant and a preferable arrangementis to have an ammeter and oil pressure gauge at each side with aspeedometer placed between the same, but 1t 1s not intended to limit the invention to that particular arrangement of instruments. The body p of those openings. The arrangement of the of the panel is shown with the usual rib 3 projecting from the front face of the panel and this front face is preferably shown with three openings 4.- for exposure of the dial plates of the instruments 6 which are supported adjacent said openings 4. These openings have flanges 7 projecting rearwardly from the rear face of the panel, cutaway as indicated at 8 in Fig. 1 and these cut away portions 8 are all inradial lines taken from the electric light 9 as a center (Fig. 1). It is seen from an examination of the figuresthat the opening 4: near the center of the panel has a circular flange with a cut away portion nearest the point where the electric light is applied and in a direct line with the same,

' applied to the v instrument;

while the openings 4 for the other instruments are segmental having cut away portions-8 near the upper inner parts, which are in radial lines with'the light. The flanges 7 are projected sufficiently close to the dial plates to form enclosing casings having openings at'the cut away portions to permit the rays of light to enter into the casings.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 an electric light bulb is suitably mounted at the point indicated by the number 9 and this bulb is applied to the rear face of the panel'leaving the front bulb is held in a socket as hereinafter more face of the panel unbroken at that point. The

light emitted through the front of the panel therebyenabling the light to be indirectly A segmental shaped reflector'lO is placed around the elec V trio light bulb and is preferably enamelled white on the inside,the reflector thereby seeming to contain the electric light .while permitting the raysto be reflected downwardly.

to reflect rays of light'directly downwardly through the cut away portions 8 of the central instrument marked 4 and rays of light are also deflected in an angular direction to enter the cut away portions of the instruments placed at the sides of the panel and reflected rays of light will almost all enter some one reflector and the cut away portions or restricted openings 8 are such that reflected rays of light are focused or concentrated in a way to enter those various openings while the remaining portions of the instrument are solidly encased against introduction of any light.

Referring to Fig. 3, there are prongs or projecting lugs 11 which are purposely formed to operate as a three prong socket for the electric light bulb, it being usual to form these prongs with ends that can be readily r bent inwardly to hold a bulb. The instruments 6 are formed with bottom portions hav ing legs 12 which are readily secured to the panel adjacent to the proper opening 8 and in such position that dial readings or figures will be exposed to view from the front of the panel. The instruments are so bolted or secured to the panel portions as indicated in .Figs. 1 and 3.

7 lines towards the cut away portions whereby the rays of light will be projected through the light openings upon the faces of the dials.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a panel with a support for an electric light in said panel, a sector shaped reflector for said light, the light support and reflector being placed at the rear of the panel leaving an unbroken front wall at that point, instrument dials rearwardly of openings in the front wall of said panel, flan es projecting from said panel having cut away portions forming restricted openings, said restricted openings being placed on radial lines with the electric light and said reflector being shaped and formed to project the rays of light along radial lines along the rear face of said panel into the restricted openings whereby the dials Will be lighted up. 3. In a panel assembly, an electric light on said panel in a position to be concealed from the operator, a plurality of dials placed in openings on said panel, there being a central opening and openingsat the side of the central one, flanges around said openings having cut away portions for light openings, areflector adjacent said electric light, the central opening corresponding with the shape of the reflector to permit rays of light reflected from said light to enter said openings and the other cut away portions being of different shape but permitting reflected rays of light to enter, said cut away portions. I v

4-. In a unitaryfpanel mounting adapted to be secured to the dash of an automobi1e,"a panel member proper provided with 'a plurality of dial openings each surrounded by a flange 7 having a cut-away portion, dials mounted-in said openings respectively and positioned in substantial parallelism with said panel member, said flange extending substantially flush with said dials throughout the periphery thereof, a lamp supported in the rear of said panel and a reflector co-operatin'g with said lamp and cut-awayportions of said flanges'to illuminate the faces of said dials and said flanges being disposedto reflect the light over said dial surfaces.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th. day of February, 1926.

JOHN R. PADESKY. 

